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3 Fall 2013 After four months of review, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has affirmed the City of Lake Elmo’s Water Surface Ordi- nance that would expand hours of wake creating use on the Tri-Lakes from sunrise to sunset Monday through Friday and 9 am to sunset on the weekends. Lake Elmo wake creation hours would remain from noon to sunset seven days a week. In addition, the MnDNR concurred with Lake Elmo officials that the or- dinance would place an immediate no wake restriction on all Tri-Lakes if the ordinary high water mark was exceeded and the restriction would remain for three days after the spe- cific lake level would retreat below the ordinary high water mark. Lakes have now been posted to reflect the approval. “It was fortuitous that this summer saw heavy rains and we were able to carefully observe the effect high water has on the Tri-Lakes, espe- cially Olson Lake and Lake DeMont- reville,” said City Administrator Dean Zuleger. “City staff and three coun- cil members, including the Mayor, were able to observe for almost two months straight how use, wake, and high water affect the quiet enjoy- ment of the lake.” Zuleger himself recorded more than 50 observations of lake use this summer, including the phenomenon of sunfish guppies flying out of the drainage weir. City staff submitted field worksheets to MnDNR staff in late June and then observed two weeks of heavy rains and the impact of it on the Tri-Lakes system. During this period, City staff worked with the Valley Branch Wa- tershed District to understand the hydraulics of the area lakes from Silver Lake to the St. Croix River. “Ordinary high water mark on the Tri-Lakes is a sensitive issue and in some respects we are held hostage by the management of upstream lakes. The Council thought it best to amend the no wake restrictions to manage not only our lakes but the inflow of water from the north,” said Mayor Mike Pearson. The summer of 2013 yielded a few important facts on lake use. First, the highest congestion co-efficient are early morning fisherman on Ol- son Lake and Lake DeMontreville. Second, early morning wake cre- ation largely comes from riparian land owners wanting to enjoy their property. Third, enforcement will be key in making sure sensitive proper- ties like the Catholic Retreat Center, are protected. “Our voluminous observations lead us to the conclusion that outside con- gestion is not as significant an issue with wake creation as is the respect for your neighbors, especially on the Tri-Lakes. It is a tight knit community that really understands each other well and we hope that intimacy can be self-policing and allow everyone to enjoy a high quality of life,” con- cluded Pearson. MNDNR Affirms New Lake Use Times; Modifies High Water Wake Creation Rule According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department speeding com- plaints and citations in Lake Elmo are down this year. Several contrib- uting factors include the completion of I-694 road construction project, which generated a substantial in- crease of detour traffic through Lake Elmo. In fall of 2012, the City adopt- ed a “zero tolerance” traffic enforce- ment policy for posted speed limits, which also had an impact on the de- crease of traffic safety issues. Area patrol officers would like to re- mind residents of the curfew hours in Lake Elmo. Youth younger than age 15 are to be home during the hours from 10 pm to 5 am, and teens between the ages of 15 and 18 are required to be home from midnight to 5 am. One final public safety reminder is that all dogs need to be licensed through Lake Elmo City Hall. Licens- es are valid for one calendar year; 2014 dog licenses will be available in November. To report a dog-at- large or any other safety concern, please call the Washington County dispatch at 651-439-9381. Speeding Down in Lake Elmo Last year’s “zero tolerance” traffic enforcement policy has had a positive impact on speed violations. Public Safety